When God's People Suffer

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We know that our Lord is a loving, caring God. Yet, there is that struggle trying to understand why God-honoring people often experience extremely difficult times. The world loves to try and convince us that God isn’t loving, when terrible things happen in our lives. They try to get us to question just how loving and caring God really is. The reality is we could easily fall into that thinking, as well.
We also know the truth that because sin entered into this world, evil is a harsh reality. Even King David questioned God, when he said, Why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer? Unhappy, painful, heartbreaking things often happen to individuals who believe in God.
In spite of all of this, we also know that God is still on the throne. We know that God can take the most horrific thing that happens to us and use it for His glory. However, there are still no definitive answers that can get rid of the pain felt by the families. We should never suggest that this was part of God’s ideal plan. Yet, God did allow it to take place; plus we know that God will ultimately reveal His glory. The Bible tells us that Satan is the destroyer and the murderer.
I am going to take some time in the book of Job, where we recall Job’s struggles with God. As Job discovered, and we will as well, there are not necessarily any answers that will give satisfaction. Just as Job sought God out directly, we can do the same thing. One Old Testament scholar stated: To face God is not to get answers, but to rephrase all our questions.
In this world, evil is a reality; good people suffer, sometimes unjustly so. But please understand, injustice comes from Satan. Even though God permits it, He does so while enabling the faithfulness of the righteous to triumph.
In touching upon Job’s situation, we ask a question that is quite relevant to our lives today. Is it possible to trust God without being certain that we will benefit from the suffering? Can we trust God in the midst of the crisis?

Job Is An Honorable Person—1.1-5

The Bible describes Job as being . . . blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. There is no evidence that Job deserved what was soon going to happen to him. Later, we read that there were some so-called friends that were certain that there must be something wrong with Job.
When catastrophe hits a family, there is not always an earthly reason for the trouble which has come into their lives. Friends, difficulties and trials often have nothing to do with our spiritual walk. Sometimes, Satan is just trying to destroy us, usually attempting to make God look bad.

Job is Falsely Accused—1.6-12

The Bible also tells us that the accuser of the brethren is Satan. In these verses, we see Satan answering to God as to his activities. Satan’s response sounds like what Peter described in 1 Peter 5.8 “. . . Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Then there’s a very curious comment by God in verse 8: “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” At this point, Satan challenges God and suggests that Job is this way only because God gives him everything.
Then there is a key phrase in verse 12 that needs to be understood. God says: “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” Why is this important to understand? What is going to happen to Job is directed at him from Satan, not God. But God still has control over Satan
Also, we recognize that God is being attacked by the accuser, via Job. In other words, if God is worthy of worship, will Job continue to worship when things go totally against him?
Satan wants the world to think that we serve and worship God only if everything is going well for us. We have seen and will continue to see that God’s children will worship Him even if life hands us an exploding package. Satan and the world will see that we can and will worship God even if hell itself seems to have dropped all around us.

Job Worships Amidst Crisis—1.13-22

Reading through these verses, we see catastrophe after catastrophe happening in Job’s life. To show just how relentless and merciless it was, there is a phrase that is repeated over and over in these verses: While he was still speaking . . .
Livestock and beasts of burden were stolen; then fire came from above and destroyed the sheep; next, an enemy raided the camels and killed the servants; lastly, a tornado came and destroyed his children’s home and killed them.
Now, consider Job’s response. He was absolutely stricken with unspeakable grief. He tore his robe and shaved his head. How much more could a person take? He had every right to be in mourning. Even as a godly man, beyond most people in their walk with the Lord, he could not be faulted for being in such horrible despair.
We don’t know how long it took, but he took a look at his own life and his relationship with the Lord. His conclusion: Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Yet this was not where his worship began. The verse before this states he fell to the ground and worshiped.
The thought most likely had been going through his mind, as to why God did not prevent these things. Yet, Job was able to recognize that he came with nothing into this world, and he certainly wasn’t going to take anything out of this world. He understand what James later wrote in James 1.17: “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

Conclusion

This time is a very difficult and challenging time for the family. Because we are part of this family because of Christ, we find ourselves mourning with those who mourn. Just as the book of Job does not give any neat, tidy solutions, we will not find any, either.
Job’s faith in God did not erase the pain and agony; it may have even increased the intensity of it. However, Job held onto his trust and faith and worship in God. He knew that God was everything to him. He knew that God was sovereign. He knew that God was going to continue to do a work in his life for God’s glory.
We also can walk in identification with Job, because we serve a great Lord. Job provides a wonderful encouragement back in the first part of Job 19.25: “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives . . .”
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